Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 192
192
Accepted in Part
Eliminating external communication is critical to disrupting prison drug supply chains
Conclusion
Given that the Organised Crime Group market is based on reliable means of communication and that sophisticated smartphones are readily available within prisons, eliminating external communication is the single most critical intervention to disrupt drug supply chain management, debt coordination and criminal operations. (Conclusion, Paragraph 111)
Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts the committee's observation, detailing a wide-ranging existing programme to prevent illicit mobile phones from entering prisons, detect and disrupt their use, and investigate offences. They are also concluding a tender for new mobile phone capabilities and developing operational guidance to support staff.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
Partially accept The threat posed by illicit mobile phones and other contraband within prisons is escalating, and so we have a wide-ranging programme in place to prevent these from entering prisons in order to detect and disrupt their use by prisoners when they are smuggled in, and to investigate cases where a prisoner may have committed an offence. Prisons deploy a range of measures as part of their local security strategies to detect items of contraband, coming into and within prisons. These include enhanced gate security (which includes metal detection archways, handheld detectors, and X-Ray baggage scanners), X-Ray body scanners and frequent searching. HMPPS also use powers under the Prisons (Interference with Wireless Telegraphy) Act 2012 to block the use of mobile phones. To strengthen our approach, HMPPS has recently concluded a tender for new mobile phone capabilities and is developing operational guidance and reviewing training packages to support and upskill staff and ensure that equipment is used effectively. We have dedicated search teams and regional resources protected to ensure skilled staff can maximise the impact of countermeasures within our prisons. HMPPS has long established intelligence analysis capabilities at local, regional, and national levels who are trained and capable of utilising the intelligence from the capabilities.